Lucian, Imagines, Henry Watson Fowler (Translator), Francis George Fowler (Translator), 22

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[22]

Lycinus

And may the prayer be granted! She deserves every blessing: she is not outwardly fair alone, like Helen, but has a soul within more fair, more lovely than her body. It is a fitting crown to the happiness of our benevolent and gracious Emperor, that in his day such a woman should be born; should be his, and her affections his. It is blessedness indeed, to possess one of whom we may say with Homer that she contends with golden Aphrodite in beauty, and in works is the equal of Athene. Who of womankind shall be compared to her

In comeliness, in wit, in goodly works?

Imagines. Lucian. Henry Watson Fowler (Translator), Francis George Fowler (Translator). Medford, MA, USA. 2023-08-01.

Current edition Perseus

A Portrait-study (English) (The Works of Lucian of Samosata, Vol. 3. Fowler, Henry Watson and Fowler, Francis George, translators. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1905.)

Editions (1)

Εἰκόνες Perseus (Lucian, Vol. 4. Harmon, Austin Morris, editor. London: William Heinemann, Ltd.; Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 1925 (printing).) — 22 focus

Λυκῖνος

καὶ οὕτως, ὦ Πολύστρατε, γιγνέσθω· ἀξία γὰρ οὐ τὸ σῶμα μόνον ὥσπερ ἡ Ἑλένη καλὴ οὖσα„ καλλίω δὲ καὶ ἐρασμιωτέραν¹ ὑπʼ αὐτῷ² τὴν ψυχὴν σκέπουσα. ἔπρεπε δὲ καὶ βασιλεῖ τῷ μεγάλῳ χρηστῷ καὶ ἡμέρῳ ὄντι καὶ τοῦτο μετὰ τῶν ἄλλων ἀγαθῶν, ὁπόσα ἐστὶν αὐτῷ, εὐδαιμονῆσαι, ὡς ἐπʼ αὐτοῦ καὶ φῦναι γυναῖκα τοιαύτην καὶ συνοῦσαν αὐτῷ ποθεῖν αὐτόν· οὐ γὰρ μικρὸν τοῦτο εὐδαιμόνημα, γυνὴ περὶ ἧς ἄν τις εὐλόγως τὸ Ὁμηρικὸν ἐκεῖνο εἴποι, χρυσείῃ μὲν αὐτὴν Ἀφροδίτῃ ἐρίζειν τὸ κάλλος, ἔργα δὲ αὐτῇ Ἀθηναίῃ ἰσοφαρίζειν. γυναικῶν γὰρ συνόλως οὐκ ἄν τις παραβληθείη αὐτῇ οὐ δέμας οὐδὲ φυήν, φησὶν Ὅμηρος, οὔτʼ ἂρ φρένας οὔτε τι ἔργα.

Translations (1)

Essays in Portraiture Perseus (Lucian, Vol. 4. Harmon, Austin Morris, editor. London: William Heinemann, Ltd.; Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 1925 (printing).) — 22 focus

[22]

LYCINUS

So be it, Polystratus. She deserves it, because it is not in body alone, like Helen, that she is fair, but the soul that she harbours therein is still more fair and lovely. It was in keeping, too, that our Emperor, kindly and gentle as he is, along with all the other blessings that he enjoys, should be so tavoured by Fortune as to have such a woman born in his time and consort with him and love him. For that is no trivial favour of Fortune—a woman about whom one can quote with propriety the saying of Homer, that she vies with golden Aphrodite in beauty and equals Athena herself in accomplishments.¹ Among mortal women there is none to compare with her, “neither in stature nor mould” (as Homer says), “nor in mind nor in aught that she doeth.”²

Lucian Imagines 22

Henry Watson Fowler (Translator), Francis George Fowler (Translator)

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Lycinus

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LYCINUS

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